Jon Axelrod is a partner at the Madison Office of DeWitt Ross & Stevens. A leading litigator, Mr. Axelrod's clients include major corporations, units of government, insurers, trade associations and individuals. Several of his cases have resulted in landmark decisions in Wisconsin and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Following law school graduation with honors, Mr. Axelrod was awarded a fellowship in litigation at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in Philadelphia. In 1970, he began employment with the District of Columbia Public Defender Service and defended more than 50 complex federal criminal cases. In 1972 he joined a law firm in Washington, D.C., specializing in litigation, then returned to Madison in 1974 to join DeWitt Ross & Stevens as a shareholder.

From 1995 to 2000, Mr. Axelrod was an appointee of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin to the Board of Attorneys Professional Responsibility, the disciplinary board that regulated the practice of law in Wisconsin.

Mr. Axelrod has received numerous accolades. In 2006, Mr. Axelrod was named a Fellow by the Board of Trustees of the Fellows of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, an honor limited to 2.5 percent of the membership of the State Bar of Wisconsin. Mr. Axelrod has been named to the "top lawyers" list published by Madison Magazine. He also has been designated a Wisconsin Super Lawyer on the inaugural list published by Law & Politics magazine, and included for more than 10 years in the national publication, The Best Lawyers in America.

A member of several professional associations, Mr. Axelrod is on the board of directors at the University of Wisconsin Law School Friends of the Remington Center Endowment, Inc.

Major cases where Mr. Axelrod was counsel include:

• Raymond Motor Transportation, Inc. v. Rice, 434 U.S. 429, 98 S.Ct. 787, 54 L.Ed.2d 664 (1978) (Wisconsin's ban on double-bottom tractor semitrailers held unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court under Commerce Clause of United States Constitution. Represented major motor carriers.)
   
• AccuWeb, Inc. v. Foley & Lardner, 2008 WI 24, 308 Wis. 2d 258, 746 N.W.2d 447 (Established proper measure of damages in Wisconsin when patent is prematurely lost. Represented the patent holder on appeal.)
   
• Liebovich v. Minnesota Ins. Co., 2008 WI 75, 310 Wis. 2d 751, 751 N.W.2d 764 (Established insurance coverage under an AIG Private Client Group policy for non-accidental offenses, including breach of real estate restrictive covenant.  Represented lake property owner in coverage dispute with AIG.)
   
• Wisconsin AFL-CIO v. Elections Board, 543 F.Supp. 630 (E.D. Wis. 1982) (Wisconsin's legislative districts held unconstitutional under one-person/one-vote principle of the United States Constitution. The Court established new district lines to provide equal representation.  Represented Wisconsin legislative leaders.)
   
• State v. Wisconsin Central Transportation Corp., 200 Wis. 2d 450, 546 N.W.2d 206 (Wis. App. 1996), affirmed, 204 Wis. 2d 317, 562 N.W.2d 152 (1997) (Wisconsin's "conductor law" held unconstitutional as preempted by federal law. Represented Wisconsin Central Railroad and its holding company.)
   
• Wisconsin v. Beno, 116 Wis. 2d 122, 341 N.W.2d 668 (1984) (Legislative leader held to have immunity under the Wisconsin Constitution against civil subpoena requesting confidential information provided by constituent. Represented Speaker of Wisconsin Assembly.)
   
• Wisconsin Hospital Association v. Reivitz, 820 F.2d 863 (7th Cir. 1987) (Wisconsin Medicaid freeze held invalid under Supremacy Clause of United States Constitution. Represented Wisconsin Hospital Association.)
   
• Aetna Life Insurance Co. v. Mitchell, 101 Wis. 2d 90, 303 N.W.2d 639 (1981) (Wisconsin life insurance cost disclosure administrative rules declared invalid. Represented major life insurers.)
   
• Robert Hansen Trucking, Inc. v. LIRC, 126 Wis. 2d 323, 377 N.W.2d 151 (1985) (Motor carriers held not liable for unemployment compensation taxes on owner-operators. Represented Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association.)
   
• Professional Office Buildings, Inc. v. Royal Indemnity Company, 145 Wis. 2d 573, 427 N.W.2d 427 (Wis. App. 1988) (Insurer held liable for multi-million dollar air crash judgment. Represented air crash victim and his employer.)
   
• Albedyll v. Wisconsin Porcelain Company Revised Retirement Plan, 947 F.2d 246 (7th Cir. 1991) (Obtained $5.2 million judgment affirmed against ERISA pension plan. Represented employees of Wisconsin Porcelain Company including management employees.)
   
• Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority v. Verex Assurance, Inc., 166 Wis. 2d 636 (1992) (Insurer prohibited from rescinding mortgage insurance policies. Represented Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority.)
   
• Thompson v. Craney, 199 Wis. 2d 674, 546 N.W.2d 123 (1997) (Wisconsin statute eliminating powers of Superintendent of Public Instruction held unconstitutional. Represented Governor of State of Wisconsin.)
   
• Gorton Farms v. Hostak, Henzl & Bichler, S.C., 217 Wis. 2d 493, 577 N.W.2d 617 (1998) (Established standards for determining when court-ordered attorneys' fees are to be divided between attorney and client.)

Other cases:

• State of Wisconsin v. Publishers Clearing House, (Circuit Court, Columbia County) (2002). (Represented Publishers Clearing House in major consumer trial brought by Wisconsin Attorney General.)
   
• Nekoosa Papers, Inc. v. Magnum Timber, et al., (Circuit Court, Jackson County) (2003). (Represented Georgia Pacific subsidiary on major contract action resulting in judgment for Georgia Pacific.)
   
• Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority v. Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp., (Circuit Court, Dane County) (2004). (Represented major Wisconsin nonprofit corporation in dispute involving $95 million in housing assets.)